Improvement in breech-loading ordnance



W. WILLIAMS.

Breach-Loading Ordnance Patented Nov. l', 1864.

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N-PETERS. PMOTOA. THUGRAPHER wAsHmGToN D o UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM VILLIAMS, .OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREE-CH-LOADING ORDNANE.l

. Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 44,905, datedNovember 1, 1864; antedated August 7, 1862.

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that L'WILLIAM WILLIAMS, of St. Louis, in the county of St.Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Breech-Loading Gannon 5 and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and eXact description of the same, reference being had tothe annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to theletters of reference marked thereon.

To enable others skilled in the art to make purpose of removing thechamber from the gun through the breech. rIhe upper end of the pin'bprojects from the external surface of the chamber and fits a suitablegroove or. slot cut in the bore of the breech of the gun, so that whenthe chamber is inserted in the breech it can reach its position entirelyWithin the breech only when the pin slides in the groove, thus insuringthe coincidence of the vent c of the gun with that of the chamber. Ablock 'y of india-rubber, d, is interposed between the rear of thechamber a and the breech-pin e, which is slightly tapered toward thebottom. The india-rubber has a'ring in its outer surface, by which itmay be caught with a hook when it is desired to remove it from the gun.

The upper end of the breech-pin e has projecting lugsf, with holes,through which may be inserted a bar when it is necessary to Y remove thebreech-pin. The bottom of the breech is closed by the sliding cap g. Thetrunnions h may be cast with the body of the gun, or may be separatelymade with a ring or band, that may be shrunk on thegun or otherwisesecured, as has been frequently practiced.

In using this cannon,the chamber a is placed on the ground,with theopening upward. The cartridge and ball are then placed in the chamber,and it is inserted through the breech of' the gun into its properposition, the sliding of the pin b in its groove insuring the c0incidence of the vents. The block of india-rub ber is next inserted, and thebreech-pin is then dropped into its place. When thegun is fired the.block of elastic india-rubber transfers the force of the recoil to thebreech-pin. While the chamber is being reloaded it can have itsvent-hole plugged, and be placed in Water to get cool. Several chambersmay be attached to each gun, so that when one chamber becomes heated itmay be replaced by another and the gun kept constantly in use.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 'Ihechamber a, breech-pin e, and indiarubber block d, arranged in the breechof the gun, and in respect to each other in the manner described, thewhole to be constructed as set forth. v

W. WILLIAMS;

